Elon, N.C. – The Elon University women's lacrosse team allowed just one second half goal as the Phoenix posted a 12-7 victory over East Carolina Tuesday evening. Elon held ECU to just seven shots in the second half and none in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix pulled away.
 
With the win, Elon improves to 2-2 on the season and has won two straight. ECU falls to 1-1 following a 17-day break after beating Queens in its season opener.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon led 2-1 following a low-scoring first quarter. ECU got on the board first but Mia Zebley and Lila Ceribelli each scored over the final six minutes of the period to give the Phoenix the lead.
• Things turned quickly in the second quarter though as East Carolina scored three times in succession for a 4-2 lead with just under 10 minutes to play in the half.
• Elon rallied, though, with three goals in a 61-second span. Freshman Danielle Swietoniowski scored twice just 30 seconds apart and Zebley added her second goal just 31 seconds after the Swietoniowski flurry.
• ECU tied it up once more with 4:37 to go but Elon got back-to-back goals from Ana Lee Vandiver for the 7-5 advantage. The Pirates scored with only 39 seconds remaining in the half to get within one at the break.
• ECU tied the game once more as the Pirates opened the third quarter scoring, but the Elon defense took over from there. The Pirates would not score over the final 28 minutes of action and Elon posted five goals in that span.
• Cierra Hopson and Ceribelli scored to give Elon a 9-7 lead after three before Sammy Fisher scored twice and Vandiver completed the hat trick in the fourth quarter.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Six different players scored for Elon and five had at least two goals. Ana Lee Vandiver led the way with three goals, while Sammy Fisher, Mia Zebley, Danielle Swietoniowski and Lila Ceribelli had two each.
• One game after having nine assists, Elon did not have an assist against ECU.
• Vandiver scored her three goals on three shots on goal and Ceribelli's two goals came on just two shots on goal.
• Vandiver recorded her second hat trick of the season and her third game with at least three points. She had seven goals on the season on just 10 shots on goal.
• The Elon defense was magnificent, coming up with 11 caused turnovers as ECU turned it over 16 times. Jessie Penner led the way with four caused turnovers, while Reagan Kuehn and Brooke Scheuermann had two apiece.
• Kuehn also had a team-high three ground balls. She now has at least one ground ball in three straight games and has at least one caused turnover in each contest this year.
• Penner now has seven caused turnovers in Elon's two victories and eight on the season.
• Fisher had 10 draw controls as Elon won the battle in the circle 13-9.
• Elon outshot East Carolina 30-18, including 7-0 in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line. The Phoenix's offensive advantage included a 20-15 edge in shots on goal.
• Caitlin Walsh made eight saves for a .533 save percentage.
• Elon is now 2-1 all-time against ECU after defeating the Pirates 13-10 last year.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon concludes its four-game home stand by hosting No. 17 Notre Dame Sunday at 11:00 a.m.